Delimitation: Telangana CM Calls for United Opposition to Centre’s Move

He said this step would be extremely harmful and adverse to the interests of the southern states.Revanth Reddy wrote separate letters to Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and Puducherry CM N. Rangasamy, expressing his deep concern over the proposed move to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats based on a proportional ratio. He stated that this would have far-reaching consequences on the southern states and the federal balance of the country.

Revanth Reddy emphasised the growing need for collective participation among the southern states and all like-minded states so that their concerns can be effectively voiced at the national level. He said that Women’s Reservation, National Delimitation, and the increase in Lok Sabha seats are three separate issues that are being deliberately mixed to create confusion in the minds of the public.

The Congress leader wrote that those supporting the Women’s Reservation Bill (without linking it to an increase in seats) or delimitation only want to redraw the boundaries of assembly constituencies within the states.

 Revanth Reddy clarified that the real contentious issue is the proposal to increase Lok Sabha seats to 850 on a proportional basis. "We will completely oppose and must oppose the increase in seats through the proportional method."

 For example, Andhra Pradesh currently has 25 Lok Sabha seats while Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats — a difference of 55 seats. Under the proposed model, Andhra Pradesh’s seats would rise from 25 to around 38, while Uttar Pradesh’s would increase to 120. This would widen the political gap from 55 to 82 seats, further increasing the structural imbalance in representation.

In his letter to Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, he said that under the proposed model, the combined Lok Sabha seats of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would increase from 40 to around 60, while Uttar Pradesh’s seats would rise to about 120.

 This would increase the political gap from 40 to 60 seats.In the letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, he noted that Karnataka’s Lok Sabha seats would go up from 28 to around 42, while Uttar Pradesh’s would increase to 120. This would widen the gap from 52 to 78 seats. He similarly explained how the proposed model would increase the political gap between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh from 60 to 90 seats.

The letter stated that the effective meaning of the proportional system is that your state’s voice and influence in Parliament will relatively decrease, even as its contribution to the nation continues to grow.

Apart from the Chief Ministers of southern states, Revanth Reddy also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an immediate all-party meeting on the Centre’s move to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats.